Significant repetition probability effects in schizophrenia.
A growing body of evidence suggests that the comparison of expected and incoming sensory stimuli (the prediction-error (ε) processing) is impaired in schizophrenia patients (SZ). For example, in studies of mismatch negativity, an ERP component that signals ε, SZ patients show deficits in the auditory and visual modalities. To test the role of impaired ε processing further in SZ, using neuroimaging methods, we applied a repetition-suppression (RS) paradigm. Patients diagnosed with SZ (n = 17) as well as age- and sex- matched healthy control subjects (HC, n = 17) were presented with pairs of faces, which could either repeat or alternate. Additionally, the likelihood of repetition/alternation trials was modulated in individual blocks of fMRI recordings, testing the effects of repetition probability (P(rep)) on RS. We found a significant RS in the fusiform and occipital face areas as well as in the lateral occipital cortex that was similar in healthy controls and SZ patients SZ. More importantly, we observed similar P(rep) effects (larger RS in blocks with high frequency of repetitions than in blocks with low repetition likelihood) in both the control and the patient group. Our findings suggest that repetition_probability modulations affect the neural responses in schizophrenia patients and healthy participants similarly. This suggests that the neural mechanisms determining perceptual inferences based on stimulus probabilities remain unimpaired in schizophrenia.


Latex immunoassay of retinol-binding protein.
Latex immunoassay, a sensitive method based on latex particle agglutination, is used here for the determination of retinol-binding protein in human biological fluids. The assay, similar to that described previously for beta 2-microglobulin (Clin. Chem. 27:832-837, 1981), consists of incubating the sample at 37 degrees C for 30 min with antibody-coated particles, then quantifying the resulting agglutination by particle-counting or turbidimetry. Latex particles coated with antibody are stabilized just before use by dispersing them in a solution of bovine serum albumin at pH 10. The standard curve ranges from 0.5 to 32 micrograms/L; recovery averages 102% in urine and 93.5% in serum; between- and within-assay CVs range from 5.1 to 11.7%. The correlation coefficients of latex immunoassay with rocket immunoelectrophoresis for analysis of retinol-binding protein in 26 urines and with radial immunodiffusion in 30 sera are 0.99 and 0.91, respectively. In healthy subjects, the mean urinary excretion of retinol-binding protein is 52.5 micrograms/g of creatinine (SD = 59.2 micrograms/g of creatinine; n = 150) and the concentration in serum averages 46 mg/L (SD = 10.4 mg/L, n = 22).


[Prevention of Rhesus incompatibility and viral safety].
Sporadic reports on hepatitis-B and NANB transmissions via intravenous immunoglobulin preparations (ivIg) and a series of NANB cases after administration of intramuscular immunoglobulin (imIg) for prophylaxis of immunisation against the Rhesus (Rh) antigen D (imIg-D) in the former Eastern Germany led us to investigate retrospectively the virus safety of imIg-D regarding transfusion-relevant viral infections. In 520 Rh-negative women, who had received a total number of 987 imIg-D injections over a period of 24 years from 1968 to the beginning of 1992, the parameters HBs-Ag, HIV-1,2-Ab, HCV-Ab, HBc-Ab and CMV-Ab were measured. A comparison of the results between the test group and a control group of Rh-positive women revealed no statistically significant differences. This underlines the virus safety of the imIg-D-preparations that have been in use in our area for the last 24 years.


What can religion offer bioethics?
James P. Wind challenges the meaning of public discourse. Wind suggests that religious communities constitute "publics" of moral discourse that can provide contrast models and imaginations about humanity to a society steeped in individualism.


Sequential retinal necrosis secondary to varicella zoster in unrecognised long-standing HIV infection: patient safety report.
A retired woman with left ophthalmic shingles of over 2 years' duration attended with bilateral vision loss and systemic upset. Acute retinal necrosis with detachment was detected on right fundus examination. Cataract in left eye precluded funduscopy. Ocular ultrasonography revealed fibrotic retinal detachment in the left eye. MRI brain and orbits also showed signals of retinal detachment. No abnormal MRI signal within the optic nerve or brain was found. Varicella zoster virus was detected in ocular aqueous and blood samples. High-dose intravenous acyclovir was administered. HIV test was positive with a very low CD4 count. Antiretroviral medications were prescribed. There was no recovery of vision. She was certified as blind, and social services were involved in seeking to provide alterations to her home in view of her severe disability. This case highlights the importance of suspecting HIV in patients with severe or chronic ophthalmic shingles. Images and implications for clinical practice are presented.


Spectroscopy and DFT Calculations of Flavo-Diiron Nitric Oxide Reductase Identify Bridging Structures of NO-Coordinated Diiron Intermediates.
Flavo-diiron proteins (FDPs) are widespread in anaerobic bacteria, archaea, and protozoa, where they serve as the terminal components of dioxygen and nitric oxide reductive scavenging pathways. FDPs contain an N,O-ligated diiron site adjacent to a flavin mononucleotide (FMN) cofactor. The diiron site is structurally similar to those in hemerythrin, ribonucleotide reductase, and methane monooxygenase. However, only FDPs turn over NO to N2O at significant rates and yields. Previous studies revealed sequential binding of two NO molecules to the diferrous site, forming mono- and dinitrosyl intermediates leading to N2O formation. In the present work, these mono- and dinitrosyl intermediates have been characterized by EPR and Mössbauer spectroscopies and DFT calculations. Our results show that the iron proximal to the cofactor binds the first NO to form the diiron mononitrosyl complex, implying the iron distal to the FMN binds the second NO to form the diiron dinitrosyl intermediate. The exchange-coupling constants, J (H = JS1·S2), were found to differ substantially, +17 cm-1 for the diiron mononitrosyl and +60 cm-1 for the diiron dinitrosyl. Notwithstanding this large difference, our findings indicate retention of at least one hydroxo bridge throughout the NOR catalytic cycle. The Mossbauer hyperfine parameters and DFT calculations confirmed a semibridging NO- ligand in the mononitrosyl intermediate that lowers the exchange parameter. The DFT calculations on the dinitrosyl intermediate suggest a contribution to J from direct exchange between the S = 1 spins on the NO- ligands, which could initiate N-N bond formation. Our results provide insight into why FDPs are the only known nonheme diiron enzymes that competently turn over NO to N2O.


Artemisinin-Loaded Mesoporous Nanoplatform for pH-Responsive Radical Generation Synergistic Tumor Theranostics.
The development of novel and effective cancer treatments will greatly contribute to prolonging and improving patient lives. In this study, a multifunctional nanoplatform was designed and developed based on mesoporous NiO (mNiO) nanoparticles and terbium complexes as an artemisinin (ART) vehicle, a T2-weighted contrast agent, and a luminescence imaging probe. mNiO is a novel pH-responsive material that can degrade and release nickel ions (Ni2+) in an acidic tumor microenvironment. The endoperoxide bridge bond in the structure of ART tends to react with Ni2+ to produce radicals that can kill tumor cells. On the basis of its excellent near-infrared absorbance, mNiO can also be considered as a novel photothermal conversion agent for cancer photothermal therapy (PTT). Compared with free ART or PTT only, this novel agent showed remarkably enhanced antitumor activity in cultured cells and in tumor mice models, owing to the hypoxic tumor microenvironment impelling synergistic therapeutic action. These results provide a novel way of using a promising natural drug-based nanoplatform for synergistic therapy of tumors.


Nevus lipomatosus superficialis.
Nevus lipomatosus superficialis is an uncommon cutaneous hamartoma that is characterized by the presence of adipose tissue within the reticular dermis. We describe a 15-year-old boy with a three-year history of the classic type of nevus lipomatosus superficialis, which presented as linear arrays of soft, cerebriform papulonodules and plaques in the right inguinal fold. Investigation for chromosomal aberrations and dysregulation of Wnt signaling may provide insights into the pathogenesis of this hamartoma. Treatment is usually with surgical excision although successful use of other modalities has been described.


Robotic colorectal surgery: previous laparoscopic colorectal experience is not essential.
A background in minimally invasive colorectal surgery (MICS) has been thought to be essential prior to robotic-assisted colorectal surgery (RACS). Our aim was to determine whether MICS is essential prior to starting RACS training based on results from our initial experience with RACS. Two surgeons from our centre received robotic training through the European Academy of Robotic Colorectal Surgery (EARCS). One surgeon had no prior formal MICS training. We reviewed the first 30 consecutive robotic colorectal procedures from a prospectively maintained database between November 2014 and January 2016 at our institution. Fourteen patients were male. Median age was 64.5 years (range 36-82) and BMI was 27.5 (range 20-32.5). Twelve procedures (40%) were performed by the non-MICS-trained surgeon: ten high anterior resections (one conversion), one low anterior resection and one abdomino-perineal resection of rectum (APER). The MICS-trained surgeon performed nine high and four low anterior resections, one APER and in addition three right hemicolectomies and one abdominal suture rectopexy. There were no intra-operative complications and two patients required re-operation. Median post-operative stay was five days (range 1-26). There were two 30-day re-admissions. All oncological resections had clear margins and median node harvest was 18 (range 9-39). Our case series demonstrates that a background in MICS is not essential prior to starting RACS training. Not having prior MICS training should not discourage surgeons from considering applying for a robotic training programme. Safe and successful robotic colorectal services can be established after completing a formal structured robotic training programme.


Telomere Length as Cardiovascular Aging Biomarker: JACC Review Topic of the Week.
Telomeres shorten with age, the major risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (aCVD). The observation of shorter telomeres in aCVD patients thus suggested that critical telomere shortening may contribute to premature biological aging and aCVD. Therefore, telomere length often is suggested as a causal aCVD risk factor, a proposal supported by recent Mendelian randomization studies; however, epidemiological research has shown disappointingly low effect sizes. It therefore remains uncertain whether telomere shortening is a cause of aCVD or merely a consequence. The authors argue that elucidating the mechanistic foundation of these findings is essential for any possible translation of telomere biology to the clinic. Here, they critically evaluate evidence for causality in animal models and human studies, and review popular hypotheses and discuss their clinical implications. The authors identify 4 key questions that any successful mechanistic theory should address, and they discuss how atherosclerosis-associated local telomere attrition may provide the answers.


New Insights Into the Roles of Microglial Regulation in Brain Plasticity-Dependent Stroke Recovery.
Stroke remains the leading cause of long-term disability worldwide with significant long-term sequelae. However, there is no highly effective treatment to enhance post-stroke recovery despite extensive efforts in exploring rehabilitative therapies. Neurorehabilitation is recognized as the cornerstone of functional restoration therapy in stroke, where treatments are focused on neuroplastic regulation to reverse neural structural disruption and improve neurofunctional networks. Post-stroke neuroplasticity changes begin within hours of symptom onset and reaches a plateau by 3 to 4 weeks within the global brain in animal studies. It plays a determining role in spontaneous stroke recovery. Microglia are immediately activated following cerebral ischemia, which has been found both proximal to the primary ischemic injury and at the remote brain regions which have functional connections to the primary injury area. Microglia exhibit different activation profiles based on the microenvironment and adaptively switch their phenotypes in a spatiotemporal manner in response to brain injuries. Microglial activation coincides with neuroplasticity after stroke, which provides the fundamental base for the microglia-mediated inflammatory responses involved in the entire neural network rewiring and brain repair. Microglial activation exerts important effects on spontaneous recovery after stroke, including structural and functional reestablishment of neurovascular networks, neurogenesis, axonal remodeling, and blood vessel regeneration. In this review, we focus on the crosstalk between microglial activation and endogenous neuroplasticity, with a special focus on the plastic alterations in the whole brain network and their implications for structural and functional restoration after stroke. We then summarize recent advances in the impacts of microglial phenotype polarization on brain plasticity, trying to discuss the potential efficacy of microglia-based extrinsic restorative interventions in promoting post-stroke recovery.


[First infection with vancomycin resistant type VanA enterococci in a Norwegian hospital].
Enterococci are part of the normal human and animal bowel flora. They are considered bacteria of relatively low virulence, but are important nosocomial pathogens. In the context of their intrinsic resistance to a number of antimicrobial agents, the rapid emergence of multiresistant enterococci is alarming. As inhabitants of the gastrointestinal tract, they come into close contact with other bacteria and may pass antibiotic resistance genes to them. We report the first case of infection with a VanA vancomycin-resistant. Enterococcus in Norway. The strain was identified as Enterococcus faccium with high level resistance to aminoglycosides, ampicillin, teicoplanin and vancomycin. The VanA phenotype was confirmed by PCR detection of the vanA gene. Transmission, treatment, prevention, and control of infections with vancomycin-resistant enterococci is discussed.


Sufu limits sepsis-induced lung inflammation via regulating phase separation of TRAF6.
Rationale: Sepsis is a potentially life-threatening condition caused by the body's response to a severe infection. Although the identification of multiple pathways involved in inflammation, tissue damage and aberrant healing during sepsis, there remain unmet needs for the development of new therapeutic strategies essential to prevent the reoccurrence of infection and organ injuries. Methods: Expression of Suppressor of Fused (Sufu) was evaluated by qRT-PCR, western blotting, and immunofluorescence in murine lung and peritoneal macrophages. The significance of Sufu expression in prognosis was assessed by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. The GFP-TRAF6-expressing stable cell line (GFP-TRAF6 Blue cells) were constructed to evaluate phase separation of TRAF6. Phase separation of TRAF6 and the roles of Sufu in repressing TRAF6 droplet aggregation were analyzed by co-immunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence, Native-PAGE, FRAP and in vitro assays using purified proteins. The effects of Sufu on sepsis-induced lung inflammation were evaluated by cell function assays, LPS-induced septic shock model and polymicrobial sepsis-CLP mice model. Results: We found that Sufu expression is reduced in early response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute inflammation in murine lung and peritoneal macrophages. Deletion of Sufu aggravated LPS-induced and CLP (cecal ligation puncture)-induced lung injury and lethality in mice, and augmented LPS-induced proinflammatory gene expression in cultured macrophages. In addition, we identified the role of Sufu as a negative regulator of the Toll-Like Receptor (TLR)-triggered inflammatory response. We further demonstrated that Sufu directly interacts with TRAF6, thereby preventing oligomerization and autoubiquitination of TRAF6. Importantly, TRAF6 underwent phase separation during LPS-induced inflammation, which is essential for subsequent ubiquitination activation and NF-κB activity. Sufu inhibits the phase-separated TRAF6 droplet formation, preventing NF-κB activation upon LPS stimulation. In a septic shock model, TRAF6 depletion rescued the augmented inflammatory phenotype in mice with myeloid cell-specific deletion of Sufu. Conclusions: These findings implicated Sufu as an important inhibitor of TRAF6 in sepsis and suggest that therapeutics targeting Sufu-TRAF6 may greatly benefit the treatment of sepsis.


Transitory increase in middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity of recipient twins after fetoscopic laser photocoagulation for twin-twin transfusion syndrome.
It was the aim of this study to elucidate the clinical features of recipient twins with increased middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity (MCA-PSV) after fetoscopic laser photocoagulation (FLP) for twin-twin transfusion syndrome. Serial Doppler velocimetry of the MCA was performed in 30 recipient twins before and after FLP. Clinical data and perinatal outcome were compared between cases with and without increased MCA-PSV. Increased MCA-PSV was observed in 7 recipients (23.3%) within 14 days after FLP. MCA-PSV gradually decreased to <1.5 multiples of median in 6 recipients; however, 1 patient resulted in fetal demise subsequent to the demise of the co-twin. The incidences of fetal and neonatal demise and neurological morbidity were similar. No recipient was diagnosed as anemic at birth. The increase in MCA-PSV in recipients following FLP appeared to be generally transitory; this differs from twin anemia-polycythemia sequence.


The parametric study of hybrid nanofluid flow with heat transition characteristics over a fluctuating spinning disk.
The study explored the 3D numerical solution of an unsteady Ag-MgO/water hybrid nanofluid flow with mass and energy transmission generated by a wavy rotating disc moving up and down. The nanofluid is generated in the context of Ag-MgO nanomaterials. Magnesium oxide and silver nanoparticles have been heavily reported to have broad-spectrum antibacterial operations among metal oxides and metals. Silver nanoparticles are without a doubt the most commonly used inorganic nanoparticles, with numerous innovations in biomaterial's detection and antimicrobial operations. However, in current paper, the intention of the analysis is to boost thermal energy transmitting rates for a range of industrial implementations. When compared to a flat surface, energy transition is increased up to 15% due to the wavy swirling surface. The problem has been formulated as a system of PDEs, which included the Navier Stokes and Maxwell equations. Following that, the modeled equations are reduced to a dimensionless system of differential equations. The derived equations are then solved numerically using the Parametric Continuation Method (PCM). The findings are displayed graphically and debated. The geometry of a spinning disc is thought to have a positive impact on velocity and heat energy transfer. The insertion of nanostructured materials (silver and magnesium-oxide) increased the carrier fluid's thermal properties considerably. It is more effective at dealing with low energy transmission.


[Effects of extremely low magnetic field on acute and chronic arthritis of rats].
To investigate the effects of extremely low magnetic field on acute and chronic arthritis of rats. The acute arthritis animal models were built by the right thenar hypodermic injection of carrageenan. Then they were exposed to magnetic field for 6 hours and 8 hours, respectively. The chronic arthritis animal models were built by the right thenar hypodermic injection of complete freund's adjuvant. They were exposed to magnetic field for 7 days and 6 hours each day after the secondary affection appeared 15 days later. The swelling and inflammatory cytokine were observed in both the acute and chronic arthritis models. The ankle and thenar swellings decreased in both the acute and chronic arthritis models after different time exposure. The cytokine of serum and articular lixivium did not change in 6 hours exposed groups of acute arthritis models. The serum IL-6 and articular lixivium IL-6, TNF-alpha decreased compared with sham groups. Though the rest indexes were unchanged, they had the tendency of decrease. The extremely low magnetic field has the effects of restraining acute and chronic arthritis of rats, and can also partially restrain the cytokines when the rats were exposed for 8 hours. The mechanisms need to be further investigated.


[Sweetness dysgeusia in a case of SIADH caused by lung carcinoma].
A 56-year-old woman, with dysgeusia in which nearly all food was felt as sweet, was admitted to our hospital seeking for treatment. Serum sodium concentration was 113 mmol/L, but serum creatinine, zinc, urea nitrogen, and potassium, as well as blood glucose, were all within normal ranges. Dysgeusia disappeared when serum sodium level was normalized, but recurred when hyponatremia relapsed. She was diagnosed as having large cell lung carcinoma. We considered that the cause of hyponatremia was inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) due to lung carcinoma. Miraculin is one of taste-modifying substances which fits the sweet receptor site and induces a strong sweet taste. We considered that taste-modifying substances same as miraclin are involved in the pathophysiology of this disease.


5D-QSAR: the key for simulating induced fit?
In this journal we recently reported the development and the validation of a four-dimensional (4D)-QSAR (quantitative structure-activity relationships) concept, allowing for multiple conformation, orientation, and protonation state representation of ligand molecules. While this approach significantly reduces the bias with selecting a bioactive conformer, orientation, or protonation state, it still requires a "sophisticated guess" about manifestation and magnitude of the associated local induced fit-the adaptation of the receptor binding pocket to the individual ligand topology. We have therefore extended our concept (software Quasar) by an additional degree of freedom--the fifth dimension--allowing for a multiple representation of the topology of the quasi-atomistic receptor surrogate. While this entity may be generated using up to six different induced-fit protocols, we demonstrate that the simulated evolution converges to a single model and that 5D-QSAR--due to the fact that model selection may vary throughout the entire simulation--yields less biased results than 4D-QSAR where only a single induced- fit model can be evaluated at a time. Using two bioregulators (the neurokinin-1 receptor and the aryl hydrocarbon receptor), we compare the results obtained with 4D- and 5D-QSAR. The NK-1 receptor system (represented by a total of 65 antagonist molecules) converges at a cross-validated r2 of 0.870 and a predictive r2 of 0.837; the corresponding values for the Ah receptor system (represented by a total of 131 dibenzodioxins, dibenzofurans, biphenyls, and polyaromatic hydrocarbons) are 0.838 and 0.832, respectively. The results indicate that the formal investment of additional computer time is well-returned both in quantitative and in qualitative values: less-biased boundary conditions, healthier (i.e., less inbred) model populations, and more accurate predictions of new compounds.


Casualties of peace: an analysis of casualties admitted to the intensive care unit during the negotiation of the comprehensive Colombian process of peace.
After 52 years of war in 2012, the Colombian government began the negotiation of a process of peace, and by November 2012, a truce was agreed. We sought to analyze casualties who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) before and during the period of the negotiation of the comprehensive Colombian process of peace. Retrospective study of hostile casualties admitted to the ICU at a Level I trauma center from January 2011 to December 2016. Patients were subsequently divided into two groups: those seen before the declaration of the process of peace truce (November 2012) and those after (November 2012-December 2016). Patients were compared with respect to time periods. Four hundred forty-eight male patients were admitted to the emergency room. Of these, 94 required ICU care. Sixty-five casualties presented before the truce and 29 during the negotiation period. Median injury severity score was significantly higher before the truce. Furthermore, the odds of presenting with severe trauma (ISS > 15) were significantly higher before the truce (OR, 5.4; (95% CI, 2.0-14.2); p < 0.01). There was a gradual decrease in the admissions to the ICU, and the performance of medical and operative procedures during the period observed. We describe a series of war casualties that required ICU care in a period of peace negotiation. Despite our limitations, our study presents a decline in the occurrence, severity, and consequences of war injuries probably as a result in part of the negotiation of the process of peace. The hysteresis of these results should only be interpreted for their implications in the understanding of the peace-health relationship and must not be overinterpreted and used for any political end.


Assessing Health Professional Students' Cultural Competence Using a Global Perspective.
The United States has become a diverse society, and healthcare professionals must view culture from a global perspective. The purpose of this study was to determine cultural competence levels of entering and exiting health science students within and across differing professional programs using the Global Worldview Cultural Competence Survey (GWCCS). 196 students participated in the study: 146 were entering students and 59 were exiting students. From the 146 entering students, 138 surveys were usable in the data analysis, and 58 of the 59 exiting were usable. Two separate cohorts of health professional students completed the GWCCS. Cohort 1 completed the GWCCS during the first 2 weeks of their academic program, and Cohort 2 completed the GWCCS in their final-year post-clinical experience. A significant difference in GWCCS total score was observed between entering and exiting students in health sciences, with the exiting students being more culturally competent. Although this study did not utilize a longitudinal study design, the findings demonstrate that the exiting cohort of health science students was more culturally competent than the entering cohort of health science students as determined by the GWCCS. However, neither cohort of students reached the level of proficiency.


Triennial Growth Symposium--Establishment of the 2012 vitamin D requirements in swine with focus on dietary forms and levels of vitamin D.
In swine nutrition, little is known about vitamin requirements for reproductive processes and bone health, especially vitamin D. Supplemental vitamin D is usually added to animal feed as cholecalciferol (vitamin D3), which is transported to the liver and hydroxylated to 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25(OH)D3), and this metabolite has become commercially available for swine nutrition. Recently, the official vitamin D requirement for gestating and lactating swine was increased from 200 to 800 IU vitamin D/kg feed. The purpose of the present paper was to review the main findings of a published study, which has contributed to the basis for this establishment, and to put them into context with the existing literature. In this study, a dose-response trial with 4 doses of both vitamin D3 and 25(OH)D3 was performed with breeding swine and consisted of 2 experiments: In Exp.1, 160 gilts from first estrus until d 28 of gestation were fed diets containing 4 concentrations of 1 of 2 vitamin D sources (i.e., 200, 800, 1,400, or 2,000 IU/kg from cholecalciferol or corresponding levels of 5, 20, 35, or 50 μg/kg from 25(OH)D3 [Hy-D]). Concurrently in Exp. 2, the same 8 dietary treatments were fed to 160 multiparous sows from the first day of mating until weaning. Dietary treatments of ≥800 IU/kg feed showed beneficial effects for breeding swine in terms of bone mineral content and ultimate strength, decreased number of still born piglets, and greater vitamin D status in comparison with dietary treatments of 200 IU/kg of feed. In addition, using the Hy·D resulted in greater concentrations of plasma 25(OH)D3 when fed at equal amounts (weight) of vitamin D3 but depended on the level tested. Above 200 IU/kg feed, 25(OH)D3 resulted in greater concentrations in plasma than vitamin D3 and could as such been considered as an equivalent or even more advantageous dietary source of vitamin D. In conclusion, this study, together with other recently published studies, addressed the nutritional benefits of vitamin D dose and forms for gestating and lactating sows and their offspring in terms of vitamin D status, reproduction, transfer to the neonate, and bone health.


Medical abortion in the first trimester.
Pregnancy can be terminated safely by inducing abortion medically at any stage of gestation. Antagonists such as mifepristone block the action of progesterone and hence result in uterine contractions and increase the sensitivity of the uterus to prostaglandins. In the last 15 years the combination of a single dose of mifepristone (600 mg) followed 48 hours later with a suitable prostaglandin (1 mg gemeprost vaginal pessary or 400 microg oral misoprostol) has been licensed in most countries in Europe and the USA for induction of abortion in the early weeks of pregnancy. The safety and efficacy of these methods is comparable to vacuum aspiration at the same gestation. The complete abortion rate is related to the type and dose of prostaglandin, the route of administration as well as the gestation and parity. Published data suggest that the dose of mifepristone can be reduced from 600 mg to 200 mg without loss of efficacy. Although misoprostol tablets are formulated for oral use, extensive clinical experience has demonstrated vaginal administration is more effective and is associated with fewer side-effects. Successful abortion using medical methods requires a well organized service which includes referral without delay and a robust system of follow up to identify failures. The failure rate as reflected by the number of women who require surgical intervention falls with increasing experience. In those countries where medical abortion has been freely available for about 10 years, such as France, Scotland and Sweden, about 60-70% of eligible women elect for this method.


Analysis of dynamic distal radioulnar convergence after ulnar head resection and endoprosthesis implantation.
The most common method to treat the arthralgic distal radioulnar joint is resection of the entire ulnar head (Darrach procedure). Pain and weak grip strength usually manifest complications related to instability of the distal forearm. In an attempt to mechanically stabilize the distal forearm after ulnar head resection, an endoprosthesis was developed to replace the ulnar head after Darrach resection. The goals of this study were to evaluate the dynamic effects of the Darrach procedure on radioulnar convergence and the mechanical efficacy of implantation of an ulnar head endoprosthesis after Darrach resection. Cadaver forearms were rotated actively and passively and relevant muscles were loaded simultaneously with a dynamic PC-controlled forearm simulator. Resultant total forearm torque and 3-dimensional kinematics of the ulna, radius, and third metacarpal were recorded simultaneously in 7 fresh-frozen cadaver upper extremities. Comparisons were made between the intact state, after Darrach resection, and after implantation of ulnar head endoprosthesis. The Darrach resection created substantial forearm instability with movement of the radius ulnarly (0.92-0.38 cm vs intact state) and anteroposterior translation in each loading condition. Implantation of the ulnar head endoprosthesis effectively restored distal radioulnar joint stability by simulating the geometry of the ulnar head, further stabilized by attaching the triangular fibrocartilage complex. These laboratory data provide validity to implanting an ulnar head endoprosthesis to stabilize the distal forearm after Darrach resection.


Sensing and repairing DNA double-strand breaks.
The DNA double-strand break (DSB) is the principle cytotoxic lesion for ionizing radiation and radio-mimetic chemicals but can also be caused by mechanical stress on chromosomes or when a replicative DNA polymerase encounters a DNA single-strand break or other type of DNA lesion. DSBs also occur as intermediates in various biological events, such as V(D)J recombination in developing lymphoid cells. Inaccurate repair or lack of repair of a DSB can lead to mutations or to larger-scale genomic instability through the generation of dicentric or acentric chromosomal fragments. Such genome changes may have tumourigenic potential. In other instances, DSBs can be sufficient to induce apoptosis. Because of the threats posed by DSBs, eukaryotic cells have evolved complex and highly conserved systems to rapidly and efficiently detect these lesions, signal their presence and bring about their repair. Here, I provide an overview of these systems, with particular emphasis on the two major pathways of DSB repair: non-homologous end-joining and homologous recombination. Inherited or acquired defects in these pathways may lead to cancer or to other human diseases, and may affect the sensitivity of patients or tumour cells to radiotherapy and certain chemotherapies. An increased knowledge of DSB repair and of other DNA DSB responses may therefore provide opportunities for developing more effective treatments for cancer.


[The nomenclature and typing of drug-induced liver changes. The opinion of a group of pathologists].
A working group of histopathologists with specialised liver training has established guidelines for a nomenclature of drug-induced liver lesions. It is recommended to use the term of drug-induced hepatitis for all cases of virus hepatitis-like picture. The most frequent type is that of hepatitis with confluent necrosis. This type of hepatitis was subdivided into three subtypes of diagnostic probability for differential diagnosis versus virus hepatitis.


Changes in energy intakes during pregnancy and lactation in a national sample of US women.
Increases in energy intakes during pregnancy and lactation were evaluated by examining dietary data for 458 pregnant women who participated in the Continuing Surveys of Food Intakes by Individuals conducted in 1985 and 1986. Energy intakes were well below recommendations during all reproductive states; however, increases during pregnancy approximated recommendations, while increases during lactation were low. Postpartum non-lactating intakes did not return to prepregnancy levels for Black women or women with lower incomes.


Progress on the protective effects of maternal fatty acid supplementation on infant asthma risk: a narrative review.
Asthma is a heterogeneous disease characterized by chronic airway inflammation, and involves a variety of cells and cellular components, which genetic and environmental factors play an important role in the pathogenesis of asthma. It usually occurs in infancy, and epidemiological studies have shown that maternal nutrition during pregnancy is related to the occurrence of asthma in childhood. Fatty acids (FA) are carboxylic acids with different amounts of carbons. Based on the differences between saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbon chains, it can be divided into three categories: saturated fatty acid (SFA, no double bonds between them), monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA, one double bond), and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA, multiple double bonds). Excessive intake of SFA is the main cause of elevated blood cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), which leads to arterial lumen stenosis and atherosclerosis, and increases the risk of coronary heart disease. MUFA has hypoglycemic, lipid-lowering, cholesterol-lowering, and antithrombotic effects. SFAs and MUFAs can increase airway inflammation and promote the development of asthma. However, the correlation between maternal SFA and MUFA intake and infant asthma risk has not been reported. The most widely studied PUFA are N-3 PUFA and N-6 PUFA, which mainly derived from vegetable oil, fish oil, and microorganism. As an important component of membrane phospholipids, PUFA can play an immunomodulatory role by affecting the production of eicosanoids, cell membrane fluidity, and gene expression. Maternal intake of PUFAs, especially N-3 PUFAs during pregnancy, can reduce the risk of infant asthma by regulating Th1/Th2 cytokines and immune responses, but a few studies are still controversial. Therefore, large-scale multicenter randomized controlled clinical trials are still warranted to further verify the efficacy of N-3 PUFAs on asthma.


Transmission measurements in wedge-shaped absorbing samples: an experiment for observing negative refraction.
We report on experiments of light transmissivity, at wavelengths of 532 nm and 400 nm, through an Au film with a wedge shape. Our results exhibit a resemblance with those reported for observing negative refraction in proposed left-handed materials. This resemblance is present even though the medium that we used is well known to be right handed with its refractive index, therefore, having a positive real part. Analogous results are obtained with a glass wedge at 320 nm where absorption dominates. The experiment is explained by the wave losses that dominate over propagation, as in the already reported observation of negative refraction in developed metamaterial wedges. We design and propose an experiment with metamaterials by using thicker wires and parallel face slabs, in correspondence with light measurements that we have carried out in positive refractive index samples. This experimental configuration should conclusively determine whether refraction is positive or negative.


Maxillary expansion in an animal model with light, continuous force.
Maxillary constriction is routinely addressed with rapid maxillary expansion (RME). However, the heavy forces delivered by most RME appliances to expand the palate may lead to deleterious effects on the teeth and supporting tissues. The objective of this study was to explore a more physiologic maxillary expansion with light continuous force. Twenty 6-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were equally divided into experimental (EXPT) and control (CTRL) groups. A custom-fabricated archwire expansion appliance made from 0.014-inch copper-nickel-titanium wire was activated 5 mm and bonded to the maxillary molar segments of animals in the EXPT group for 21 days. The force applied to each maxillary segment was 5 cN. Microfocus x-ray computed tomography and histological analyses were used to compare the tooth movement and bone morphology in the midpalatal suture and buccal aspect of the alveolar process between the EXPT and CTRL groups. Descriptive statistics (mean ± standard error of the mean) and nonparametric statistical tests were used to compare the outcomes across groups. Compared to the CTRL group, there was a statistically significant increase in buccal tooth movement and expansion of the midpalatal suture in the EXPT group. There was no difference in the bone morphologic parameters between groups. The mineral apposition rate was increased on the buccal surface of the alveolar process in the EXPT group. Application of light, continuous force resulted in maxillary osseous expansion due to bilateral sutural apposition and buccal drift of the alveolar processes. This animal experiment provides a more physiologic basis for maxillary expansion.


Nurse practitioner students' observations of preceptor engagement in obesity management and weight bias: A mixed-methods approach.
Obesity is considered a growing epidemic in the United States. Nurse practitioners (NPs) have the opportunity to serve as leaders in addressing concerns related to disease management, particularly obesity. Currently, we lack an awareness of how NP students are learning obesity management from their preceptors. Thus, the current study sought to explore how NP students perceive preceptors' behaviors when managing patients with obesity. This study used a mixed-methods design. Participants were asked to report how often they observed their preceptors engage in different strategies when interacting with patients with obesity (e.g., calculate body mass index, identify goals). Students were then asked to respond to the statement: "share observations you made of how patients with obesity were treated in this environment." Students completed 2 clinical rotations during this period and, thus, were asked to answer the questions twice to capture experiences at both clinical sites. Researchers surveyed 225 NP students completing clinical rotations in 3 settings (Family Practice, Pediatrics, and Obstetrics/Gynecology). Quantitative results revealed significant differences in the frequency of observed obesity management behaviors by all preceptors. Qualitative results revealed that NP students most often observed preceptors displaying interpersonal warmth without weight bias when working with patients with obesity. Contrary to current literature, this sample of NP students observed their preceptors engaging in positive interactions with individuals with obesity. Educators must continue to teach students to engage in unbiased behavior toward patients. It is critical to continue to improve obesity management content offered in NP programs.


Reflections on the strategy of hospital development based on the characteristics of new hospitals.
The disease spectrum is constantly changing, meaning patients' medical characteristics are complex and varied, and hospital operations are facing great challenges. To provide a basis for formulating relevant policies, promoting the continuous improvement of medical quality, improving the efficiency of medical services and proposing corresponding countermeasures. Information on the first page of the medical cases of patients discharged from 2020-2021 in the case management system of The Second People's Hospital of Zhangye City was collected, and statistical analysis was performed in terms of the origin, age, gender, occupation and main diagnosis of the patients. The database was established using Excel software, and statistical description was performed using SPSS 23.0 software, in which the main indicators were the number of cases and relative numbers (%). The total number of inpatients in the hospital exhibited an overall upward trend, with the number in 2021 increasing by 40.53% compared with the previous year. Among them, 0.75% of the inpatients resided outside the province and 99.25% resided within the province. The proportion of inpatients within the city was 98.86%, including 85.50% in Ganzhou District and 14.5% in the five surrounding counties (districts). In 2021, the number of inpatients in the five surrounding districts increased by 60.67% compared with the previous year. The occupational structure of the inpatients was mainly farmers, accounting for 64.68%, which was higher than all other occupational groups, while public employees accounted for 17.9%. Inpatients aged 60 years and above accounted for 37.75%. In terms of disease spectrum ranking, circulatory, digestive, respiratory, injury and oncological system diseases ranked in the top five of the presented diseases, accounting for 64.47% of the total number of inpatients. The patients of the new hospital are mainly elderly patients and local farmers. The hospital development should be based on the disease characteristics of this group, improving the diagnosis and treatment capacity of the departments and strengthening the capacity building of the hospital and the level of the medical services.


Renal allograft survival in patients transfused perioperatively only.
We investigated in a prospective study the effects of perioperative blood transfusions on the outcome of renal transplantation. All patients (n = 105) receiving their first cadaveric renal allograft were transfused perioperatively (i.e. 0-6 hours before transplantation) with two units of non-washed, unfiltered packed red cells. Forty-eight were transfused perioperatively only; 57 patients had received blood earlier and thus were transfused pre- and perioperatively. Graft survival one and two years post-transplant was 79 per cent at both time intervals in the group transfused perioperatively only, and 85 per cent and 74 per cent in the pre- and peroperatively transfused group. No adverse effects were observed concerning perioperative transfusions. In patients transfused perioperatively only, acceptable graft survival rates are obtainable. In these patients the risk or presensitisation is avoided, and thus their chance of successful transplantation increased.


Alligator tears: a reevaluation of the lacrimal apparatus of the crocodilians.
The Harderian gland is a poorly understood anterior ocular gland that occurs in most terrestrial vertebrates. Numerous extraorbital functions have been ascribed to the Harderian gland, principally based on its association with the nasolacrimal duct. Few studies have centered on archosaurs and the majority of those available focused solely on the Harderian gland of birds. Little is known about the lacrimal apparatus of the crocodilians. We examined the lacrimal apparatus of several specimens of Alligator mississippiensis anatomically, histologically, and histochemically and studied the embryogenesis of this system. The nasolacrimal duct possesses a distal secretory area, which is more convoluted than that of typical mammals or lepidosaurs. The alligator Harderian gland possesses a unique combination of characteristics found in lepidosaurs, birds, and mammals. Like that of both mammals and lepidosaurs, it is a large, tuboloacinar gland that appears to secrete both mucoprotein and lipids. However, the presence of blood vessels and immune cells is reminiscent of that of the avian Harderian gland. The immunogenesis of the alligator Harderian gland appears to be tied to the development of the vascular system. The presence of a distinct palpebral gland in the anterior aspect of the ventral eyelid is a feature unique to alligators. Based on position, this gland does not appear to be homologous to the anterior lacrimal gland of lepidosaurs. Lymphatic aggregations were also found in the palpebral gland. The presence of interstitial immune cells in the orbital glands of alligators suggests that the alligator lacrimal apparatus, like that of birds, may play a role in the head-associated lymphatic tissue system.


Relationship of phosphodiesterase 4D (PDE4D) gene polymorphisms with risk of ischemic stroke: a hospital based case-control study.
Stroke remains a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Ischemic stroke (IS) accounts for around 80-85% of total stroke and is a complex polygenic multi-factorial disorder which is affected by a complex combination of vascular, environmental, and genetic factors. The study was conducted with an aim to examine the relationship of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of PDE4D (T83C, C87T, and C45T) gene with increasing risk of IS in patients in North Indian population. In this hospital-based case-control study, 250 IS subjects and 250 age-and sex-matched control subjects were enrolled from the Neurosciences Centre, A.I.I.M.S., New Delhi, India. Deoxyribonucleic acids (DNAs) were extracted using the conventional Phenol-Chloroform isolation method. Different genotypes were determined by Polymerase chain reaction- Restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% Confidence Interval (CI) of relationship of polymorphisms with risk of IS were calculated by conditional multivariable regression analysis. High blood pressure, low socioeconomic status, dyslipidemia, diabetes, and family history of stroke were observed to be statistically significant risk factors for IS. Multivariable adjusted analysis demonstrated a statistically significant relationship between SNP 83 of PDE4D gene polymorphism and increasing odds of IS under the dominant model of inheritance (OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.02 to 2.50; p value = 0.04) after adjustment of potential confounding variables. Stratified analysis on the basis of TOAST classification demonstrated a statistically significant association for increasing 2.73 times odds for developing large vessel disease stroke as compared to controls (OR, 2.73; 95% CI, 1.16 to 0.02; p value = 0.02). We did not find any significant association of SNPs (C87T and C45T) of the PDE4D gene with the risk of IS. SNP 83 of PDE4D gene may increase the risk for developing IS whereas SNP 87 and SNP45 of PDE4D may not be associated with the risk of IS in the North Indian population. Prospective cohort studies are required to corroborate these findings.


Downregulation of NCL attenuates tumor formation and growth in HeLa cells by targeting the PI3K/AKT pathway.
Nucleolin (NCL, C23) is a multifunctional phosphoprotein that plays a vital role in modulating the survival, proliferationand apoptosis of cancer cells. However, the effects of NCL on cervical cancer and the underlying mechanisms behind this are poorly understood. Lentiviral transfection technology was used to construct NCL knockdown cell lines. MTT, colony formation assays, and tumorigenic assays in vivo were performed to observe cell proliferation. HOECHST 33342 staining, flow cytometry, and caspase activity assay were used to test cell apoptosis. RNA-Seq, Western blotting, and RT-PCR were conducted to investigate the specific molecular mechanism. NCL knockdown inhibited cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis both in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistic studies revealed that NCL knockdown inhibited the PI3K/AKT pathway by upregulating FGF, ITGA, TNXB, VEGF, Caspase 3, and Bax, as well as by downregulating AKT, GNB4, CDK6, IL6R, LAMA, PDGFD, PPP2RSA and BCL-2. In addition, the expression levels of apoptosis-related genes after using a PI3K inhibitor LY294002 were consistent with shRNA studies, while treatment with a 740Y-P agonist showed the opposite effect. Our findings indicate that downregulation of NCL may be a novel treatment strategy forcervical cancer.


Early selection for drought tolerance in popcorn based on gene effects estimated in seedlings.
Low rainfall rates are becoming increasingly frequent because of climate change, causing droughts and threatening world food security. For popcorn, drought is the most limiting abiotic factor for plant's growth and development. Thus, the water deficit directly impacts for crop productivity. Based on knowledge of the genetic basis of traits involved in stages of popcorn germination and seedling development under water stress, genotypes with potential for adaptation to adverse growing conditions can be selected early. Therefore, data on genetic effects and combining ability of 10 popcorn parents were compiled to propose breeding strategies for the development of cultivars with greater adaptation to water stress in the early stages. Forty-five diallel hybrids were evaluated under two different water regimes, that is, water stress and full irrigation. This corresponded to a water retention capacity of 25% and 70% of the germination paper. The plants were watered daily as needed for seven days. A range of factors were evaluated, that is, germination traits including the germination speed index and germination on the seventh day; shoot traits including length and dry weight; and root system including length, dry weight, root-to-shoot ratio, maximum root number, root network area, specific and root network length, and root volume. Breeding for drought adaption in the early stages of popcorn development can be successful when hybrids are used, because of the genetic effects of dominance (ϕs). These control the traits evaluated at the seedling stage. The combinations L61 x P2 and L71 x P3 were recommended, in view of the more successful performance estimated for traits related to the shoot and root system.


A systematic review of the effects of transcranial photobiomodulation on brain activity in humans.
In recent years, transcranial photobiomodulation (tPBM) has been developing as a promising method to protect and repair brain tissues against damages. The aim of our systematic review is to examine the results available in the literature concerning the efficacy of tPBM in changing brain activity in humans, either in healthy individuals, or in patients with neurological diseases. Four databases were screened for references containing terms encompassing photobiomodulation, brain activity, brain imaging, and human. We also analysed the quality of the included studies using validated tools. Results in healthy subjects showed that even after a single session, tPBM can be effective in influencing brain activity. In particular, the different transcranial approaches - using a focal stimulation or helmet for global brain stimulation - seemed to act at both the vascular level by increasing regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and at the neural level by changing the activity of the neurons. In addition, studies also showed that even a focal stimulation was sufficient to induce a global change in functional connectivity across brain networks. Results in patients with neurological disease were sparser; nevertheless, they indicated that tPBM could improve rCBF and functional connectivity in several regions. Our systematic review also highlighted the heterogeneity in the methods and results generated, together with the need for more randomised controlled trials in patients with neurological diseases. In summary, tPBM could be a promising method to act on brain function, but more consistency is needed in order appreciate fully the underlying mechanisms and the precise outcomes.


Substance abuse and HIV-gp120: are opiates protective?
There has long been a popular conceptual linkage between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) acquisition and substance abuse involving "needles". Indeed, in vitro studies demonstrate that these substances promote the replication of HIV. Included in these in vitro studies is a linkage or association of tissue damage and viral load with the actions HIV envelope protein gp120 with substances of abuse. However, detailed epidemiological studies have not supported this association of substance abuse and HIV acquisition, viral load and exacerbated tissue damage. It is with this understanding that we undertake a reevaluation of the in vitro studies within the context of the microvascular immune environment. In this regard, a counter-intuitive hypothesis emerges, namely, that specific substances of abuse may afford a degree of protection from HIV infection. This new hypothesis involves the neural, immune, and vascular signaling molecule nitric oxide.


Structural basis for membrane targeting of the BBSome by ARL6.
The BBSome is a coat-like ciliary trafficking complex composed of proteins mutated in Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS). A critical step in BBSome-mediated sorting is recruitment of the BBSome to membranes by the GTP-bound Arf-like GTPase ARL6. We have determined crystal structures of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii ARL6-GDP, ARL6-GTP and the ARL6-GTP-BBS1 complex. The structures demonstrate how ARL6-GTP binds the BBS1 β-propeller at blades 1 and 7 and explain why GTP- but not GDP-bound ARL6 can recruit the BBSome to membranes. Single point mutations in the ARL6-GTP-BBS1 interface abolish the interaction of ARL6 with the BBSome and prevent the import of BBSomes into cilia. Furthermore, we show that BBS1 with the M390R mutation, responsible for 30% of all reported BBS disease cases, fails to interact with ARL6-GTP, thus providing a molecular rationale for patient pathologies.


Sensitization of ruthenium nitrosyls to visible light via direct coordination of the dye resorufin: trackable NO donors for light-triggered NO delivery to cellular targets.
Three nitrosyl-dye conjugates, namely, [(Me 2bpb)Ru(NO)(Resf)] ( 1-Resf), [(Me 2bQb)Ru(NO)(Resf)] ( 2-Resf), and [((OMe) 2bQb)Ru(NO)(Resf)] ( 3-Resf) have been synthesized via direct replacement of the chloride ligand of the parent {Ru-NO} (6) nitrosyls of the type [(R 2byb)Ru(NO)(L)] with the anionic tricyclic dye resorufin (Resf). The structures of 1-Resf- 3-Resf have been determined by X-ray crystallography. The dye is coordinated to the ruthenium centers of these conjugates via the phenolato-O atom and is trans to NO. Systematic red shift of the d pi(Ru) --> pi*(NO) transition of the parent nitrosyls [(R 2byb)Ru(NO)(L)] due to changes in R and y in the equatorial tetradentate ligand R 2byb (2-) results in its eventual merge with the intense absorption band of the dye around 500 nm in 3-Resf. Unlike the UV-sensitive parent [(R 2byb)Ru(NO)(L)] nitrosyls, these dye-sensitized nitrosyls rapidly release NO when exposed to visible light (lambda >/= 465 nm). Comparison of the photochemical parameters reveals that direct coordination of the light-harvesting chromophore to the ruthenium center in the present nitrosyls results in a significantly greater extent of sensitization to visible light compared to nitrosyls with appended chromophore (linked via alkyl chains). 1-Resf has been employed as a "trackable" NO donor to promote NO-induced apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells under the control of light. The results of this work demonstrate that (a) the d pi(Ru) --> pi*(NO) transition (photoband) of {Ru-NO} (6) nitrosyls can be tuned into visible range via careful alteration of the ligand frame(s) and (b) such nitrosyls can be significantly sensitized to visible light by directly ligating a light-harvesting chromophore to the ruthenium center. The potential of these photosensitive nitrosyl-dye conjugates as (i) biological tools to study the effects of NO in cellular environments and (ii) "trackable" NO donors in photodynamic therapy of malignancies (such as skin cancer) has been discussed.


Influence of foreign compounds on formation and disposition of reactive metabolites.
Many toxic compounds are unreactive and need biotransformation in order to exert their toxic effects. Several enzymes control the formation or disposition of reactive metabolites. Especially well studied is the group of enzymes responsible for the control of reactive epoxides. Such epoxides may bind spontaneously to DNA, RNA and protein. These alterations of critical cellular macromolecules may disturb the normal biochemistry of the cell and lead to cytotoxic, allergenic, mutagenic and carcinogenic effects. Whether these effects will be manifested depends on the chemical reactivity as well as on other properties (geometry, lipophilicity) of the epoxide in question. Enzymes controlling the concentration of epoxides are another important contributing factor. Several microsomal monooxygenases exist. Some monooxygenases preferentially attack large substrates at single sites, specific for each enzyme. Some of these steps produce reactive metabolites; others are detoxification pathways. Enzymes that metabolize the epoxides represent a further determining factor. These enzymes include epoxide hydrolase (EC 126.96.36.199) and glutathione transferases (EC 18.104.22.168), which do not play a purely inactivating role but can, in some cases, act also as coactivating enzymes. Some of these enzymes have been shown to be influenced by foreign compounds. Acute effects by activation and inhibition of the enzymes as well as long-term effects by induction and repression have been observed. Since different foreign compounds differentially influence various enzymes, they can produce changes not only in overall metabolic activity but also changes in metabolite pattern and in selective toxicities.


Bragg grating fabrication with wide range coarse and fine wavelength control.
A Bragg grating fabrication method based on a phase-controlled interferometric approach with both coarse control and fine tuning of Bragg wavelength in the range of 1200-2200 nm is demonstrated by fabricating multiple Bragg reflectors in a single fiber device. With the fine tuning method, we achieved ~113 nm of FWHM bandwidth centered at ~1545 nm and ~174 nm of FWHM bandwidth centered at ~2005 nm, which were limited only by the size of the overlap of the interfering beams and by the Bragg wavelength. We used the wide range of the coarse wavelength control and the precision of the fine wavelength setting to determine the fiber Sellmeier coefficients with a mean squared error <3.5 × 10(-9).


Rhabdomyosarcoma: an overview and nursing considerations.
This article aims to provide nurses with a clinical overview of rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare type of soft tissue sarcoma. The causes, clinical features, pathophysiology, diagnostic process, prognosis and treatment will be explored. Some of the main nursing considerations for rhabdomyosarcoma patients will be discussed in light of current treatment recommendations.


Psychological management of pain.
In this article an overview is given on the attempts of understanding and treating chronic pain from the psychodynamic view and the perspective of behavioural medicine. Pain cannot be reliably measured. Assessment of pain depends on verbal description, nonverbal expressions, specific tests and our empathy. From this perspective pain is a matter of subjective experience and communication. Several phenomena (e.g. phantom limb pain, stress analgesia, the pain-relieving effects of relaxation, hypnosis, placebo, etc., pain in spite of a non-existing injury) obviously show that psychological factors like distraction, relaxation, fear, depression, former pain experiences as well as family and cultural influences modulate the way pain is experienced. Different parts of the CNS are involved in the modulation of pain-experience. Referring to cognitive and emotional processes, the importance of the the neocortex and and the limbic system are to be underlined. Chronic pain (as a category of ICD-10) presupposes a continuous, torturing pain, which sometimes even cannot be explained sufficiently by an organic damage. Psychosocial problems such as emotional conflicts, misleading thoughts, etc. are recognizable and can be brought into connection with the pain the patient experiences.


First Report of Leaf Spot on Ipomoea nil Caused by Alternaria alternata in China.
Ipomoea nil (Linnaeus) Roth, belonging to the Convolvulaceae family, is an ornamental and medicinal plant in China, which has the function of diuretic and expectorant, and it is also a common weed in the field. In October 2021, a leaf spot disease was observed on I. nil in a field as weed in Jingzhou (N 30° 21', E 112° 19'), Hubei Province, China. Symptoms began as small brown blotches, then developed into oval or irregularly shaped brown necrotic lesions. In severe cases, the leaves were completely necrotic and detached. In the surveyed area, the incidence was between 30% - 40%. To isolate the pathogen, twenty-one leaf pieces (5×5 mm) were cut from the lesion edges of seven symptomatic leaves, disinfected with 70% ethanol and 2% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), rinsed with sterile water five times, then placed on three potato dextrose agar (PDA) modified with 50 μg/mL kanamycin, and incubated at 25 °C in dark for 5 days. The isolates were subcultured by transferring mycelium tips. Sixteen fungal strains were isolated from the tissues, and nine of them showed similar morphological characteristics. After cultured 7 days on PDA at 25 °C, the nine colonies were initially white, then turned greenish brown to black in the center and had abundant fine villous aerial mycelia up to 61.5 mm in average diameter. To examine its conidial morphology, the fungi were cultured for 7 days on potato carrot agar (PCA) at 22°C with a light/dark period of 8/16 h. On PCA, conidia were brown or olive-brown, obclavate to obpyriform, with a short beak, one to five transverse and zero to three longitudinal septa. They formed chains of 1 - 8 conidia, with branches. Conidia were 16 - 46 µm long and 8 - 14 µm wide (n=50). These morphological features were similar to those described in Alternaria spp. (Simmons 2007). A single isolate "Q2" was selected for molecular identification because it was the most aggressive in preliminary leaf pathogenicity assays. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA and histone 3 (H3) gene were amplified and sequenced using primers ITS1/ITS4 (White et al. 1990) and H3-1a/H3-1b (Zheng et al. 2015). BLAST analysis revealed that the sequences (ITS, ON360984; H3, ON375577) were 100% identical to Alternaria alternata (ITS, MK396607; H3, MN840996), respectively. Maximum likelihood analysis based on combined two gene sequences was conducted with an evolutionary model of GTR+I+G under 1000 bootstrap replicates. Phylogenetic tree showed that Q2 and Alternaria alternata 21-5 and BLH-YB-11 located in one clade supported with 99% bootstrap values. The pathogen was identified as A. alternata. To fulfill Koch's postulate, 10 ml conidia (106 spores/ml) of Q2 was sprayed on five healthy seedlings, with sterile distilled water as a control. All leaves were rinsed three times with sterile water before inoculation. All seedlings were placed in sealed plastic bags with air valves, and grown in a greenhouse (25 ± 2 ˚C, RH 65%). The test was repeated twice. After 10 days, symptoms typical of brown blotches similar to those observed in the field were observed on leaves of inoculated plants, while control remained healthy. A. alternata was re-isolated from the inoculated symptomatic leaves with a frequency of 100% based on morphological and molecular characters, thus Koch's postulate was confirmed. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of A. alternata causing leaf spot on I. nil in China. Our findings extended the host range of the pathogen A. alternata on characteristic plants.


An excess electron at polyethylene/vacuum interfaces using a reaction-field technique.
We study the surface states of an excess electron at polyethylene/vacuum interfaces using an accurate reaction-field method, specifically designed to take into account the long range interaction of the excess electron and the dielectric surface. The method is shown to validate the energy levels recently reported with a simple perturbation theory scheme, while providing a better description of the wave function at the vacuum. The use of a single particle pseudopotential allows the simulation of large interface samples, showing distinct differences between the electron surface states at amorphous and crystalline interfaces due to their different atomic density.


The discovery and structure-activity relationships of 1,2,3,6-tetrahydro-4-phenyl-1-[(arylcyclohexenyl)alkyl]pyridines. Dopamine autoreceptor agonists and potential antipsychotic agents.
A novel dopamine (DA) autoreceptor agonist, 1,2,3,6-tetrahydro-4-phenyl-1- [(3-phenyl-3-cyclohexen-1-yl)methyl]pyridine (14), was identified. The structure-activity relationships surrounding this compound were studied by synthesis of analogues and evaluation of their dopaminergic activity. The cyclohexene substitution pattern was varied along with the length of the chain connecting the 1,2,3,6-tetrahydro-4-phenylpyridine to the cyclohexene. Compound 14, having the 1,3-substitution pattern and a single methylene chain, was the most potent. The 1,2,3,6-tetrahydro-4-phenylpyridine could be replaced by other aryl-cyclic amines with a slight loss in activity. The phenyl group on the cyclohexene ring could be para substituted; electron-donating groups were better tolerated than electron-withdrawing groups. Finally, the enantiomers of 14 were resolved via the 1,1'-binaphthyl-2,2'-diyl hydrogen phosphate salts. Although both isomers were partial DA agonists, the (+)-enantiomer had higher intrinsic activity than the (-)-enantiomer. Syntheses were developed that allowed rapid preparation of analogues. An X-ray crystal structure determination of an intermediate identified the (+)-isomer of 14 as having R configuration. This compound, designated CI-1007 (PD 143188), was found to have antipsychotic-like activity in behavioral tests; in particular, it was orally active in the conditioned avoidance test in squirrel monkeys with an ED50 of 0.6 mg/kg. The overall profile suggests that (R)-(+)-14 may be a clinically useful antipsychotic agent.


An integrated platform for fibrinogen quantification on a microfluidic paper-based analytical device.
Fibrinogen (FIB) plays a key role in blood coagulation and thrombosis and its concentration in blood can directly reflect health conditions, thus efficient detection of FIB would benefit the treatments of certain diseases such as liver and heart diseases. However, there is a lack of sensitive, simple, rapid and cheap FIB detection device currently, in lieu of expensive and sophisticated approaches in laboratories. Here, we propose a novel plasma separation and FIB detection platform based on a microfluidic paper-based analytical device (μPAD). It is the first time that dielectrophoretic (DEP) force is combined with capillary force on paper for plasma separation, and the separation efficiency of plasma reaches about 95%, ensuring reliable downstream FIB detection, for which we also propose a new method called the resistance-fibrinogen detection (RFD) method. It not only avoids the use of large-scale instruments for detection, but also possesses high precision and simplicity. The method is found to be reliable in FIB detection for various concentrations ranging from 127.0 to 508.0 mg dL-1. Moreover, the results obtained from the proposed μPAD show an excellent agreement (R2 = 0.9985) with those obtained from an automatic coagulation analyzer with natural human blood samples. Overall, the proposed platform provides a low-cost and reliable approach for FIB detection, especially for clinical use in resource-limited areas.


Influence of sex and habitat on the size and shape of anal and dorsal fins of the blackstripe topminnow Fundulus notatus.
The size and shape of the anal and dorsal fin in the blackstripe topminnow Fundulus notatus from lake and stream habitats across multiple ages and sexes were examined. Differences in the size and shape of anal and dorsal fins were sex-specific and not related to habitat differences. Males have longer and more pointed anal fins and longer, larger and more pointed dorsal fins than females. These sex differences occur predominantly in the older age class. The angle (i.e. pointedness) of the dorsal and anal fins is tightly correlated suggesting that fins follow a similar growth trajectory as individuals become sexually mature.


A new two-step route to CdTe micrometer-scaled spindles and nanorods.
In this study, a simple and convenient synthetic approach for producing high-quality CdTe crystals has been developed. Cadmium telluride micrometer- and nanometer-scaled crystals were synthesized through a novel two-step route: CdTe nanoparticles were synthesized first via hydrothermal method and followed by diethylenetriamine (DETA) treatment. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy images showed that spindle- and rod-like CdTe crystals were obtained by varying the temperature of the hydrothermal reaction and the time of the DETA treatment. The possible growth mechanism is discussed. The advantages of this synthetic route, when compared to others, are under mild conditions that the reaction carried out and without any prerequisite on the particles in the second step.


[Anti-apoptosis effect of astragaloside on adriamycin induced rat's cardiotoxicity].
To study the possible mechanism of anti-myocardial cell apoptosis of astragaloside induced by adriamycin (ADR). Fifty SD rats were randomized into five groups: the normal control group,the model group, the astragaloside low dose (A-L) group, the astragaloside medium dose (A-M) group and the astragaloside high dose (A-H) group, 10 in each group. The normal control group was given normal saline by intraperitoneal injection, while the other four groups were given ADR by intraperitoneal injection once every other day for six times with the total dosage of 15 mg/kg. At the same time, different dosage of astragaloside was administrated by gavage to the three treated groups, and sodium carboxymethycellulose (SCMC) was given to the normal control and the model group. Myocardial cell apoptosis was examined by in situ end-labeled DNA (TUNEL), protein and mRNA expressions of bax, bcl-2 were detected respectively with immunohistochemistry assay and RT-PCR. Compared with those in the normal control, apoptosis index was significantly higher, the protein and mRNA expressions of bcl-2 were lower and those of bax were higher, in the model group, resulted in lower ratio of bcl-2/bax (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). However, in the A-H group, apoptosis index decreased significantly, the expressions of bcl-2 were higher, those of bax were lower, and ratio of the bcl-2/bax increased (all P < 0.05). High dose of astragaloside could suppress the myocardial cell apoptosis induced by ADR with the possible mechanism related to regulating the expressions of bcl-2 and bax.


SPA Proteins Affect the Subcellular Localization of COP1 in the COP1/SPA Ubiquitin Ligase Complex during Photomorphogenesis.
The Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) COP1/SPA ubiquitin ligase is a central repressor that suppresses light signaling in darkness by targeting positive regulators of the light response, mainly transcription factors, for degradation. Light inactivates COP1/SPA, in part by excluding COP1 from the nucleus. SPA proteins are essential cofactors of COP1, but their exact role in the COP1/SPA complex is thus far unknown. To unravel a potential role of SPA proteins in COP1 nucleocytoplasmic partitioning, we monitored the subcellular localization of COP1 in a spa1234 quadruple mutant (spaQn). We analyzed a YFP-COP1-expressing transgenic line and endogenous COP1 after subcellular fractionation. In dark-grown seedlings, both YFP-COP1 and endogenous COP1 accumulated in the nucleus in the absence and presence of SPA proteins, indicating that SPA proteins are not required for nuclear localization of COP1 in darkness. In contrast, in white light-grown seedlings, spaQn mutants failed to relocalize COP1 from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. Hence, SPA proteins are necessary for the light-controlled change in COP1 subcellular localization. We conclude that SPA proteins have a dual role: (1) they are required for light-responsiveness of COP1 subcellular localization, and (2) they promote COP1 activity in darkness in a fashion that is independent of the nuclear import/nuclear retention of COP1.


Adult gangliocytoma arising within the lateral ventricle: A case report and review of the literature.
Gangliocytomas are rare neuronal tumors with an incidence of <1% of all central nervous system (CNS) neoplasms. They occur mostly in the pediatric age group, localizing within the cerebral cortex, most often the temporal lobe. We report a case of an intracranial gangliocytoma arising within the lateral ventricle in a 66-year-old female. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed a diffusely enhancing lobulated mass situated within the frontal horn of the right lateral ventricle with extension into the foramen of Monro and obstructive hydrocephalus. The patient underwent an interhemispheric transcallosal approach with gross total resection and relief of her hydrocephalus. Pathological examination showed clusters of highly pleomorphic neuron-like cells without evidence of neoplastic glial cells. Histopathological and immunohistochemistry findings were consistent with the diagnosis of gangliocytoma (World Health Organization Grade 1). Gangliocytomas are rare low-grade CNS neoplasms that can present in an older population within unusual locations and should be included within the differential whenever a suspicious lesion is encountered.


Reversibly cross-linked polymer gels as healing agents for epoxy-amine thermosets.
The Diels-Alder reaction was used to develop a reversibly cross-linking gel as a healing agent for traditional epoxy-amine thermosets. Direct application of the reversibly cross-linking network to a crack surface in an epoxy-amine thermoset resulted in the recovery of 37% of the initial epoxy-amine network's strength. Composites in which the reversibly cross-linking gel was incorporated as a secondary particulate phase recovered 21% of the initial composite strength after the first healing cycle, with healing possible up to five times.


Effect of reduced dietary fat on estradiol, adiponectin, and IGF-1 levels in postmenopausal women with breast cancer.
In recent years, epidemiological studies have strongly related obesity with an increased risk of developing postmenopausal breast cancer. The aromatization of fatty tissue increases the levels of estradiol and adiponectin, which is correlated with the body mass index (BMI). It is of interest to investigate the effect of reducing BMI on estradiol, adiponectin, and IGF-1, as reducing BMI could be a new strategy to limit the risk of recurrence during the adjuvant treatment of breast cancer. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of reduced dietary fat on the levels of serum estradiol, adiponectin, and IGF-1 among postmenopausal Mexican women with breast cancer. In this controlled clinical trial, 100 female patients were randomly divided into two groups and followed for six months. Group 1 (n = 50) was subjected to reduced dietary fat, whereas Group 2 (n = 50) was subjected to a control diet. The levels of serum estradiol and testosterone were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, whereas the concentrations of adiponectin and IGF-1 were determined using a radioimmunoassay. The patients subjected to reduced dietary fat showed a significant difference in BMI (27.93 ± 4.45 vs 26.05 ± 2.65; p = 0.01) and waist circumference (99.92 vs 91.59 cm; p = 0.0001) after the treatment. Moreover, a significant decrease in serum estradiol was observed (21.23 ± 14.32 vs 16.05 ± 10.25 ng/mL; p < 0.001). The adiponectin concentration also decreased significantly (47.53 ± 12.19 vs 42.52 ± 12.34 µg/mL; p = 0.004), while IGF-1 and testosterone did not show significant changes (p > 0.05). In addition, BMI had a relationship with serum adiponectin (r = -0.27; p = 0.02) and estradiol (r = 0.37; p = 0.001). The current study shows that reducing BMI decreases serum estradiol and adiponectin. Large clinical trials are needed to investigate the role of adiponectin in breast cancer development in obese women.


[A pilot program to improve causes of death certification in primary care of Catalonia, Spain].
The BEDTAR pilot program assessed changes in the quality of certification of death's causes after a training session for the primary care physicians in the Tarragona's Area of Catalonia, in the Northeast of the Iberian Peninsula. Before-after evaluative study with intervention and without control group. The study population was the physicians of the reformed primary health care network of the AT. The training session began with a test consisting of certifying 3 deaths. This test was followed by a theoretical and practical seminar. The session concluded with a final test consisting on certifying the same 3 cases. The variables used to evaluate the quality the certification were: logical sequence the death causes, correct position on death certificate of the immediate, intermediate and basic causes, precise use of cardiac arrest and other ill-defined diseases, appropriate use of abbreviations, legibility, vocabulary and, finally, use of all the available information. The final participation of the study population was 71% and the global program efficacy was 59%. The BEDTAR program improved the quality of certification and emphasized the relevancy and the applicability of the results.


Effects of Foliar Selenite on the Nutrient Components of Turnip (Brassica rapa var. rapa Linn.).
We administered foliar applications of 50, 100, and 200 mg L-1 selenium (Se, selenite) on turnip (Brassica rapa var. rapa Linn.) and detected the changes in the main nutrient components in fleshy roots. Results showed that the foliar application of Se (IV) significantly increased the Se content in turnip, and Se (IV) positively affected the uptake of several mineral elements, including magnesium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, manganese, and copper. Se (IV) treatments also improved the synthesis of protein and multiple amino acids instead of crude fat and total carbohydrate in turnip, indicating that the foliar application of Se (IV) could enhance Se biofortification in turnip and promote its nutritional value. We recommended 50-100 mg L-1 Se treatment for foliar application on turnip based on the daily intake of Se for adults (96-139 μg person-1 day-1) and its favorable effects on the nutrient components of turnip.


Technique for the collection of clear urine from the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus).
Urine samples can be a very useful diagnostic tool for the evaluation of animal health. In this article, a simple technique to collect urine from the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) was described, based on a similar unpublished technique developed for the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) using a canine urinary catheter. With this technique, it was possible to collect relatively clean urine samples from Nile crocodiles of different sizes using canine urinary catheters or small diameter stomach tubes. Based on the gross anatomical features of the cloaca of the Nile crocodile, it was confirmed that urine accumulates in a chamber consisting of the urodeum and coprodeum. Faecal material is stored temporarily in the very short rectum, which is separated from the urinary chamber by the rectocoprodeal sphincter.


Inhaled nitric oxide alters the distribution of blood flow in the healthy human lung, suggesting active hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction in normoxia.
Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) is thought to actively regulate ventilation-perfusion (V̇a/Q̇) matching, reducing perfusion in regions of alveolar hypoxia. We assessed the extent of HPV in the healthy human lung using inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) under inspired oxygen fractions (FiO2 ) of 0.125, 0.21, and 0.30 (a hyperoxic stimulus designed to abolish HPV without the development of atelectasis). Dynamic measures of blood flow were made in a single sagittal slice of the right lung of five healthy male subjects using an arterial spin labeling (ASL) MRI sequence, following a block stimulus pattern (3 × 60 breaths) with 40 ppm iNO administered in the central block. The overall spatial heterogeneity, spatiotemporal variability, and regional pattern of pulmonary blood flow was quantified as a function of condition (FiO2 × iNO state). While spatial heterogeneity did not change significantly with iNO administration or FiO2 , there were statistically significant increases in Global Fluctuation Dispersion, (a marker of spatiotemporal flow variability) when iNO was administered during hypoxia (5.4 percentage point increase, P = 0.003). iNO had an effect on regional blood flow that was FiO2 dependent (P = 0.02), with regional changes in the pattern of blood flow occurring in hypoxia (P = 0.007) and normoxia (P = 0.008) tending to increase flow to dependent lung at the expense of nondependent lung. These findings indicate that inhaled nitric oxide significantly alters the distribution of blood flow in both hypoxic and normoxic healthy subjects, and suggests that some baseline HPV may indeed be present in the normoxic lung.


Consequences of low-intensity light at night on cardiovascular and metabolic parameters in spontaneously hypertensive rats 1.
Circadian rhythms are an inherent property of physiological processes and can be disturbed by irregular environmental cycles, including artificial light at night (ALAN). Circadian disruption may contribute to many pathologies, such as hypertension, obesity, and type 2 diabetes, but the underlying mechanisms are not understood. Our study investigated the consequences of ALAN on cardiovascular and metabolic parameters in spontaneously hypertensive rats, which represent an animal model of essential hypertension and insulin resistance. Adult males were exposed to a 12 h light - 12 h dark cycle and the ALAN group experienced dim light at night (1-2 lx), either for 2 or 5 weeks. Rats on ALAN showed a loss of light-dark variability for systolic blood pressure, but not for heart rate. Moreover, a gradual increase of systolic blood pressure was recorded over 5 weeks of ALAN. Exposure to ALAN increased plasma insulin and hepatic triglyceride levels. An increased expression of metabolic transcription factors, Pparα and Pparγ, in the epididymal fat and a decreased expression of Glut4 in the heart was found in the ALAN group. Our results demonstrate that low-intensity ALAN can disturb blood pressure control and augment insulin resistance in spontaneously hypertensive rats, and may represent a serious risk factor for cardiometabolic diseases.


Gatekeeping in child welfare: a comparative study of intake decisionmaking by social workers in Canada and Sweden.
This article details findings from social workers in Sweden and Canada, illuminating similarities and differences in gatekeeping in child welfare and child protection. Analysis revealed different patterns of inclusion and exclusion. Swedish child welfare includes a greater readiness to intervene with more resources and measures. Gatekeeping is assessment driven and focused on family preservation. In Canada, only the most needy children are eligible for a limited range of services. Gatekeeping is structure driven and narrowly focused on protection. Analyses of evidence-based research to improve outcomes for children and families must include comparisons of how different structural orientations influence management of referrals at intake. The authors discuss the implications of these findings.


Delta-frequency stimulation of cerebellar projections can compensate for schizophrenia-related medial frontal dysfunction.
Schizophrenia involves abnormalities in the medial frontal cortex that lead to cognitive deficits. Here we investigate a novel strategy to normalize medial frontal brain activity by stimulating cerebellar projections. We used an interval timing task to study elementary cognitive processing that requires both frontal and cerebellar networks that are disrupted in patients with schizophrenia. We report three novel findings. First, patients with schizophrenia had dysfunctional delta rhythms between 1-4 Hz in the medial frontal cortex. We explored cerebellar-frontal interactions in animal models and found that both frontal and cerebellar neurons were modulated during interval timing and had delta-frequency interactions. Finally, delta-frequency optogenetic stimulation of thalamic synaptic terminals of lateral cerebellar projection neurons rescued timing performance as well as medial frontal activity in a rodent model of schizophrenia-related frontal dysfunction. These data provide insight into how the cerebellum influences medial frontal networks and the role of the cerebellum in cognitive processing.


The positive roles of integrated layered-spinel structures combined with nanocoating in low-cost Li-rich cathode Li[Li₀.₂Fe₀.₁Ni₀.₁₅Mn₀.₅₅]O₂ for lithium-ion batteries.
As the most promising cathodes of lithium-ion batteries, lithium-rich manganese-based layered oxides with high capacity suffer from poor cycle stability, poor rate capability, and fast voltage fading. Here we introduced AlF3 into the surface of layered lithium-rich cathode (Li[Li0.2Fe0.1Ni0.15Mn0.55]O2) as an artificial protective layer as well as an inducer of integrated layered-spinel structures to achieve both low cost and high capacity. The reduced irreversible capacity loss, improved cycling stability, and superior high-rate capability were ascribed to the combination of AlF3 nanocoating and the unique structures as well as the low charge transfer resistance. Besides, the intractable issue, fast voltage fading of the layered lithium-rich cathode was also alleviated. Such materials with both low cost and high capacity are considered to be promising candidate cathodes to achieve lithium-ion batteries with high energy and high power.


Inactivation of bacteriophages T7 and phiX174 by radiomimetics.
Inactivation of phages T7 and phiX174 induced by the radiomimetics N-nitroso-N-methylurea (NMU) and N-acetylethylenimine (AEI) has been studied. In semilogarithmic scale the kinetic curves of phage inactivation were steplike in character. This was connected with the occurrence of several processes in the system. A possible kinetic model has been proposed for the process of NMU-induced phage inactivation. The model is applicable to initial phage inactivation only. From the model a kinetic curve parameter, rho can be determined which characterizes the radiomimetic effect on different phages and determines the changes in the repair system after caffeine treatment. NMU exerted a post-inactivation effect on the phage T7. Also the NMU-induced phage T7 post-inactivation kinetic curves were of steplike character. They can be described as a sum of two exponential processes of different rate constant. The rate constant for the first stage of the post-inactivation process was close to the depurinization rate constant found in the literature.


An inhibitory antibody blocks the first step in the dithiol/disulfide relay mechanism of the enzyme QSOX1.
Quiescin sulfhydryl oxidase 1 (QSOX1) is a catalyst of disulfide bond formation that undergoes regulated secretion from fibroblasts and is over-produced in adenocarcinomas and other cancers. We have recently shown that QSOX1 is required for incorporation of particular laminin isoforms into the extracellular matrix (ECM) of cultured fibroblasts and, as a consequence, for tumor cell adhesion to and penetration of the ECM. The known role of laminins in integrin-mediated cell survival and motility suggests that controlling QSOX1 activity may provide a novel means of combating metastatic disease. With this motivation, we developed a monoclonal antibody that inhibits the activity of human QSOX1. Here, we present the biochemical and structural characterization of this antibody and demonstrate that it is a tight-binding inhibitor that blocks one of the redox-active sites in the enzyme, but not the site at which de novo disulfides are generated catalytically. Sulfhydryl oxidase activity is thus prevented without direct binding of the sulfhydryl oxidase domain, confirming the model for the interdomain QSOX1 electron transfer mechanism originally surmised based on mutagenesis and protein dissection. In addition, we developed a single-chain variant of the antibody and show that it is a potent QSOX1 inhibitor. The QSOX1 inhibitory antibody will be a valuable tool in studying the role of ECM composition and architecture in cell migration, and the recombinant version may be further developed for potential therapeutic applications based on manipulation of the tumor microenvironment.


Orthodontic extrusion of subgingivally fractured tooth using a removable appliance: an alternative treatment to reestablish biological width.
Restoration of a traumatically injured tooth presents a clinical challenge for a predictable aesthetic outcome. This case report describes a multidisciplinary approach of a subgingivally fractured permanent maxillary central incisor. A removable orthodontic appliance was used for orthodontic extrusion of root, and surgical gingival recontouring was done with electrocautery to reestablish the biological width. Form and function were restored establishing biological width and esthetics was repaired with porcelain fused to metal crown.


Specific binding sites for L-triiodothyronine in rat liver and kidney cytosol.
Binding of 125I-labelled triiodothyronine (T3) to rat liver and kidney cytosol was examined. In both organs a very similar binding protein was detected. The apparent equilibrium association constants amounted to 4.8 X 10(7) M-1 for the liver protein and to 1.8 X 10(7) M-1 for the kidney protein. In the two organs a high capacity for T3 binding was observed: maximal binding capacities of respectively 4.3 and 33.2 pmol per mg total cytosol protein. Displacement studies using thyroid hormone analogues showed that the binding exhibited similar specificity.


[Immunology of the mammary gland of cattle].
A successful control of udder diseases in dairy cattle widely depends on the knowledge of the mammary gland immune functions. They are responsible not only for the self-protection of this organ but also for the supply of the newborn with immunoprotective substances of humoral and cellular character. In the mammary gland, selected immunology methods may be used in the diagnosis of both local and systemic function disorders. Such evaluation represents a necessary prerequisite for a possible treatment by immunomodulators.


Prevalence of swine hemoplasmas revealed by real-time PCR using 16S rRNA gene primers.
Hemoplasma is a tribal name for epierythrocytic mycoplasmas including Mycoplasma suis and M. parvum which are currently recognized in pigs as causative of porcine hemoplasmosis. Here, we report a real-time PCR assay for differential detection of these swine hemoplasma species by using allelic primers in the16S rRNA gene, and its application to survey for hemoplasma infections in pigs. Universal primers and species-specific primers were designed and evaluated by using swine blood samples positive in hemoplasmas. Mycoplasma suis and M. parvum infections were both confirmed by universal primers, and mixed infections were clearly distinguished by species-specific primers. Further, we applied this real-time PCR assay to 120 swine blood specimens from clinically healthy pigs in eleven farms in Japan, and found six (5.0%) were positive for M. suis and 18 (15.0%) were positive for M. parvum, and three (2.5%) were mixed infection by both hemoplasma species.


Sigmoid colon torsion: mortality and relevant risk factors.
Sigmoid volvulus is an important acute intestinal obstruction, leading to high mortality and requiring urgent operation. The purpose of this study is to analyze risk factors for mortality in patients that were operated on due to sigmoid volvulus at our Department. The retrospective study included 158 patients, who were operated on due to sigmoid volvulus between January 1994-December 2010, in terms of age, gender, complaints at admission, physical signs, period of symptoms before admission, associated diseases, laboratory and radiological parameters, hospital stay, morbidity, and mortality. The study consisted of 135 men (85.4%) and 23 women (14.6%), with a mean age of 62.54 years. Cardiovascular disease and respiratory disease were present in 34 (21.5%) and 42 (26.6%) patients, respectively. Urgent operation was undertaken in 125, while 33 received elective surgery. Abdominal distension and pain was evident in all the patients. Generalized tenderness was detected in 58.2%, while 70.9% had hyperactive bowel sound with tympanism. Plain radiograph revealed an impression of "omega ans" in all patients, while free air was detected in 11.4% of them. Risk factors for mortality included age (p = 0.008), delayed admission (p = 0.001), cardiovascular and respiratory diseases (p = 0.001), fluid-electrolyte imbalance (p =0.001), presence of necrosis (p = 0.001), and major contamination (p = 0.001). Wound infection and intraabdominal abscess were more common in patients that developed mortality (p = 0.001 and p = 0.002). Complications like wound infection and intraabdominal abscess are more frequent in the patients with the risk of mortality. Delayed admission results in higher risk of mortality. Mortality rates can be reduced by early admission, preoperative intensive resuscitation, suitable antibiotics, and emergent and viable surgery.


Rickettsial infection in ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) collected on birds in southern Brazil.
The aim of the study was to evaluate rickettsial infection in ticks from wild birds of the Semidecidual and Atlantic Rainforest remnants of three municipalities of the State of Paraná, southern Brazil. Overall, 53 larvae and nymphs collected from birds were checked for the presence of Rickettsia DNA by molecular tests. Five tick species were tested: Amblyomma aureolatum (Pallas), Amblyomma calcaratum Neumann, Amblyomma longirostre (Koch), Amblyomma ovale Koch, and Amblyomma parkeri Fonseca and Aragão. A. longirostre ticks were infected with the spotted fever group agents Rickettsia amblyommii strain AL (32.3% infection rate) and Rickettsia parkeri strain NOD (5.9% infection rate). A new rickettsial genotype was detected in the tick A. parkeri (50% infection rate), which had never been reported to be infected by rickettsiae. Through phylogenetic analysis, this new genotype, here designated as strain ApPR, grouped in a cluster composed by different strains of Rickettsia africae, Rickettsia sibirica, and R. parkeri. We consider strain ApPR to be a new genotype of R. parkeri. This study reports for the first time rickettsial infection in ticks from birds in southern Brazil. The role of migrating birds in the dispersal of these rickettsial strains should be considered in ecological studies of spotted fever group agents in Brazil.